Chapter Four: The Veiled Sky

(Part One) 

The boy’s freckled face bore no expression, revealing a weight that belied his youthful appearance. It was unclear whether he had heard what Zhan Rifei had said. Ultimately, he was still too young. His face could not conceal the depth of his gaze, and his eyes could not hide the turmoil within his heart.

His eyes were filled with wariness—perhaps his heart was equally guarded? Zhan Rifei finally noticed the boy’s eyes. Though small and narrow, they were striking against his thin face. When Zhan Rifei looked into those eyes, he felt a familiar contradiction, much like what Huo Xiaodi had felt before.

At that moment, the boy’s eyes were a mix of vigilance and a hint of indifference. However, Zhan Rifei was not Huo Xiaodi. Upon seeing the boy’s eyes, a thought crossed his mind, and the words he had intended to say remained unspoken. Zhan Rifei’s gaze remained calm, yet the boy shivered as if he had been stripped bare under Zhan Rifei’s penetrating stare, feeling as though his innermost thoughts were laid bare. No matter how he struggled, he could not escape the insight of those dark eyes.

He turned his head, feigning interest in the darkness shrouded by the fine drizzle. 

—Did he harbor too many secrets within? 

—Having escaped the clutches of the Cold Water Palace, why did he not leave now that Zhan Rifei lacked the strength to stand? Who was he waiting for? 

Zhan Rifei lightly pressed several acupoints on his body to stop the bleeding from his back. As he drew in his internal energy, he contemplated what to do with the boy. 

—The area on his back where he had been struck felt as if something was embedded within; his internal energy surged but then retreated, unable to flow smoothly. The legendary artifact of the Cold Water Palace, after all, possessed unfathomable mysteries. With his internal energy blocked, if he encountered a strong enemy again, he would have little hope of protecting the boy.

Strangely, he suddenly wished for Huo Xiaodi to arrive quickly. Huo Xiaodi always seemed to have a way of dealing with such matters. Just as he thought of him, Huo Xiaodi appeared, his clear voice preceding him. 

—“I never expected the brothers of the Hua family to become so useless.” 

—“Why is the Black Demon Fox of Xiangyang Prefecture moving as slowly as a black snail? If we change it to ‘Transforming Black Snail,’ Xiao Shao would probably be furious.” 

Dressed in a yellow shirt, the “Cao Cao” figure stood before him, exuding a gentle demeanor. Zhan Rifei looked up and, as expected, first saw Huo Xiaodi’s sparkling, bouncing rabbit-like teeth, followed by his round face, brimming with excitement. Huo Xiaodi looked smug, his lips curled as if he had just stolen eight chickens like a mischievous little fox.

As soon as he entered the woods, he spotted the two familiar figures standing and sitting among the trees. His heart sank when he saw Zhan Rifei’s face. 

—In the twilight, Zhan Rifei’s face had turned as pale as a corpse, with faint traces of blood still visible on his face and body. The drizzle, which had diluted the blood, continued to soak his dark outer garment.

His hand still gripped his sword, which was sheathed. The scabbard was old, and as the “Zhan Lu” sword was sheathed, its brilliance was instantly subdued, its essence contained. No one would suspect that within this ancient scabbard lay a weapon of unparalleled might. 

—Since knowing Huo Xiaodi, Zhan Rifei had never drawn attention to his sword.

The only thing that remained unchanged was his smile, which now bore a hint of fatigue upon seeing Huo Xiaodi. Huo Xiaodi frowned. Beneath that smile, he could sense the well-concealed pain. Perhaps it was the intensity of the pain that made the smile appear somewhat forced.

Huo Xiaodi’s earlier pride vanished without a trace as if struck by lightning, leaving him breathless. “How did you get hurt?” he asked, unaware of the warm yet shy gaze from the side. 

—The boy’s eyes lit up with warmth upon seeing him, filled with an impulse to reach out and hold his hand. 

—He remembered Huo Xiaodi’s concerned face and warm hand under the bamboo umbrella at the Xiaolangtou Inn, just after being knocked down by the horse of Captain Feng—now likely a horse that could only strut arrogantly before the King of Hell.

The mute boy uttered a few “ah, ah” sounds, as if calling out. Huo Xiaodi finally noticed the boy’s gaze, which softened as he looked at him. “Did you not drink the medicine from the Cold Water Palace?” The boy shook his head.

Huo Xiaodi felt relieved. His gaze lingered on the boy for a moment, confirming he was unharmed, before shifting back to Zhan Rifei. 

—“Did someone from the Cold Water Palace injure you? Was it that demon woman or that lifeless monster?” 

Huo Xiaodi despised the Moon Master, or more accurately, he loathed women like the Moon Master. Zhan Rifei’s demeanor remained calm. “I fear there is no one else. However, even if they did injure me, I doubt they would fare well themselves.”

Though his complexion was still alarmingly pale and his voice weak, a hint of a smile began to emerge at the corners of his mouth, brightening against the vast night.

He seemed gravely injured yet could still manage a smile! A strange expression crossed Huo Xiaodi’s face, and a layer of amusement surfaced in his eyes. He asked a peculiar question, one whose answer was obvious even to a blind person. “Did they not injure you badly? If not, why are you still sitting on the ground and not leaving?”

Zhan Rifei’s response was equally intriguing: “Because when I can sit, I will never stand.” This was the fourth sentence he had spoken since the departure of the Cold Water Palace’s Sun Master and Moon Master. His first two sentences were directed at the boy, and when he spoke the first, it felt as if a weight pressed upon his chest, rendering him unable to cough. That sentence had drained all his strength.

By the time he spoke the second sentence, his words were still intermittent and hoarse. Yet, by the time he uttered this fourth sentence, his voice had surprisingly returned to normal. 

—Could he be made of iron?

Huo Xiaodi pouted, thinking, “Clearly unable to rise, yet he insists on putting on a brave face! How can he be so different from him?” His large eyes darted around, a sign of his contemplation. 

—Such agile, watery eyes on a man’s face were indeed a pity. Yet, whenever his eyes darted about, it seemed someone was bound to have bad luck.

Zhan Rifei found it somewhat amusing to watch him, hoping this time the misfortune would not be his. Huo Xiaodi’s large eyes finally settled in the center of his eye sockets, and he finally spoke. To Zhan Rifei’s surprise, his first words were, “You never ask anyone for help, do you? It seems asking you to seek assistance is harder than reaching the heavens.”

Before Zhan Rifei could respond, Huo Xiaodi began to feign calculations with his fingers. “I merely helped you remove a few plasters from the Xiangyang Prince’s residence, yet you not only dealt with the Cold Water Palace’s people but also saved this child. Don’t forget, we agreed to owe each other nothing.”

He elongated his voice, speaking slowly, “I, Huo Xiaodi, never intend to owe anyone a favor.” Then he stood there, grinning, waiting!

Zhan Rifei could not help but sigh, “But you seem to enjoy having others owe you favors.” Huo Xiaodi’s nose seemed to shine as he tacitly agreed.

Zhan Rifei sighed again, “Your Linglong Mountain Manor has a rather unique way of calculating favors. It seems I cannot avoid owing you this time.” The unspoken thought in his heart was, “How can you be so similar to him?”

The rain continued to drench the earth, filling the air with the fresh yet damp scent of soil. Huo Xiaodi’s yellow shirt, with sleeves half-removed, fluttered in the breeze against the dark clouds. He was waiting!

In the night, he silently watched Zhan Rifei, his expression resolute. He was still waiting!

Suddenly, a deep rumble of thunder echoed from the distant valley, as if pressed out from beneath the flowing clouds. 

“Boom—Boom—” 

“Boom—Boom—” 

—No, that was not thunder; it was the sound of drums!

A slow, mournful drumbeat echoed through the valley, lingering for a long time. The drum sound was still distant yet clear. 

—Whose drumbeat was that? 

—Or was it the drums of pursuing soldiers? 

The three figures at the edge of the woods changed their expressions. Zhan Rifei glanced at the boy, hesitated for a moment, and finally smiled as he spoke the words Huo Xiaodi longed to hear. 

“May I ask you for one more favor?”

(Part Two)

The night had deepened. 

The wind and rain gradually subsided. 

In a small temple several miles away, a small bonfire had been lit. 

The firelight was dim and small; the dilapidated temple had little dry material to burn. Outside the temple, in the woods, night birds, startled by the night rain, occasionally cooed softly. The mysterious drumbeat from earlier had faded into silence.

Zhan Rifei gently covered the sleeping child with a dry outer garment, gazing at his peaceful face. The flickering flames cast shadows on the boy’s thin features. Even in sleep, his face was marked by wariness and fear, as if he were still tormented in his dreams.

This child was small and frail, with a disability and no martial skills. Despite Huo Xiaodi rescuing him several times, why did he still harbor suspicion? Had he, at such a young age, already suffered so much that he no longer trusted anyone?

—What made him so different? 

—Was it a blessing or a curse that they had brought him out? 

Huo Xiaodi sighed, realizing he had been frowning and sighing more often lately. 

“Before stepping into the martial world, it seemed vast and boundless. Once you enter, you realize it’s filled with endless strife.” 

—Recently, the troubles he had attracted and the grievances he had endured were overwhelming. He had encountered the conflict between Xingyun Manor and the Tang Clan, and now he found himself sharing a temple with these mysterious black-clad figures. He could not return to Linglong Mountain Manor and had lost his long-time companion, San Er. Now, even this child had become entangled with him.

People say that when fortune comes, it cannot be stopped. It seems that when trouble arrives, it cannot be barred either. 

“This child is so pitiful! At such a young age, for reasons unknown, he has been wounded so many times, and because of the secrets of the Tang Clan and Xingyun Manor, he is hunted with nowhere to hide, everyone wanting to capture him.” 

He first lamented his grievances through the lens of the child’s suffering, then gazed into the distance, as if recalling something.

Zhan Rifei said, “Don’t you want to know his secret?” 

Huo Xiaodi glared, as if sulking, “Do the people of Linglong Mountain Manor care about his secret?” 

Zhan Rifei chuckled, “Though you may not care, don’t forget, you are no longer a part of Linglong Mountain Manor. Moreover, if even the Tang Clan wants to know, how could you not be curious?” 

—Perhaps this is the nature of martial artists. Curiosity is a double-edged sword—sometimes, the more you try to keep something from someone, the more they want to know. Yet once they learn, they may regret wanting to know in the first place.

—Huo Xiaodi, being from Linglong Mountain Manor, was naturally competitive and unwilling to be outdone. How could he let Xingyun Manor and the Tang Clan overshadow him? If it was something both Xingyun Manor and the Tang Clan knew, how could he not want to know?

Huo Xiaodi could not help but argue, “I only drew my sword to help him because I saw him wandering alone and helpless. Such a small child has suffered so much; don’t you think it’s truly a case of ‘each person has their fate, and fate plays tricks on people’?”

Seeing him, so young yet suddenly displaying a scholarly gravitas, Zhan Rifei couldn’t help but smile. 

But Huo Xiaodi was oblivious. His gaze was fixed on the dilapidated roof, clearly lost in thought. 

—Thoughts buried deep within his heart. 

He sighed and murmured, “As a child without a home, his fate must be far worse than Zhao Zhi’er’s.” 

“Perhaps we should send him to the capital. If Zhao Zhi’er sees him, she might take a liking to him.” 

Zhan Rifei, leaning against the bonfire, raised an eyebrow at this. “Are you talking about Zhao Zhi’er from the little Prince Zhao’s residence in Dongjing?” 

At the mention of her, Huo Xiaodi’s face lit up. 

“Of course! Little Zhao’s character and temperament are well-known in Dongjing. His servant is equally quirky and clever. I’ve heard he has a nickname called ‘God Sees and God Fears’—don’t you know? In Dongjing, there’s a famous pair of monkeys that even the Emperor has heard of, and one of them is him! The other one I haven’t seen, but I’ve heard he’s called Ming Zhu’er, a guard by the Emperor’s side, nicknamed ‘Ghost Sees Ghosts Fear.’ They truly are a perfect match.” 

As if recalling something, Zhan Rifei couldn’t help but smile. 

“Have you met the guard, Zhan?” 

Huo Xiaodi shook his head. “I’ve only heard Little Zhao mention him. Don’t be fooled by Little Zhao’s words; I know he admires him greatly. Everyone in the martial world says that Zhan is the Southern Hero, a dragon among men. His swordsmanship is said to be the best in the world; one day, I must meet him to see if my ‘Yin Yang Hound’ can handle his ‘Giant Que’ sword.” 

Zhan Rifei smiled faintly. “To be honest, he’s not that impressive. How can his swordsmanship be called the best in the world?” 

Huo Xiaodi glared. “How can someone Little Zhao admires be insignificant? When has Little Zhao ever misjudged someone? If Zhan were an ordinary person, how could Little Zhao have such a close friendship with him? Just look at how well their servants get along.” 

Zhan Rifei chuckled bitterly. “I didn’t expect you to be such a confidant of Prince Zhao. I was wondering why you were so similar to him, always wanting others to owe you favors.” 

Huo Xiaodi’s face turned red again, and this time he didn’t argue. 

Zhan Rifei smiled. “It seems you went to Dongjing to find him. So that’s it, so that’s it.” 

His gaze held a hint of amusement as if he had seen through everything. 

Huo Xiaodi’s face was as red as a piece of cloth, but in the dim firelight, others could not see it. 

“I, I—what do you mean by ‘so that’s it’?” 

Zhan Rifei said, “So the ‘backer’ you mentioned yesterday is Zhao Zhi’er from the Southern Qing Palace. No wonder you don’t care about Ma Chaoxian, who manages the Four Treasury, or the Prince of Xiangyang.” 

—“But I can’t understand; since you know Zhao Zhi’er from the Southern Qing Palace, how could you not know Ming Zhu’er from the guard’s residence? They are inseparable.” 

Huo Xiaodi’s face finally returned to normal. He shook his head vigorously. “Just one Zhao Zhi’er gives me a headache; how could I deal with another ‘Ghost Sees Ghosts Fear’? I’ve heard that the most sensational thing they did was trick Chen Laokou from the Jishan Hall in the southern city into delivering fifteen nanmu coffins to the Pang Taishi’s residence in one day!” 

As he spoke, a smile crept onto Huo Xiaodi’s lips. 

He hugged his knees, his eyes filled with mirth. 

“The first time I met Zhao Zhi’er, it was because of this incident. Little Zhao tied him up and beat him with a wooden board, and he cried so hard he lost consciousness. When Pang Taishi came to demand an explanation, he sat nearby, his face still ashen. It’s said that ever since Chen Laokou’s clueless servant blocked his sedan chair to ask for coffin money, his face has never looked good again.” 

As he recounted this unforgettable memory, another figure surfaced in his mind. Hesitating, he ultimately did not voice that thought—after all, it was also the first time he had met Little Zhao. 

“So that time I met Zhao Zhi’er, I didn’t see Ming Zhu’er. But later, I heard Little Zhao say that Ming Zhu’er was also kept inside the residence by Zhan for over thirty days without being allowed to go out. I wonder if Pang Taishi ever caused trouble for Zhan afterward.” 

Zhan Rifei smiled. “If he didn’t first deal with the big head of Prince Zhao, how could he go looking for trouble with Zhan? I’m afraid in the end, Pang Taishi was still tricked by that little rascal Zhao Zhi’er.” 

Huo Xiaodi asked, “What do you mean by that?” 

Zhan Rifei explained, “Zhao Zhi’er is known as ‘God Sees and God Fears,’ and he was trained by Prince Zhao himself. This was likely a performance for Pang Taishi. When you hear him wailing, it’s because he had pepper powder rubbed under his eyelids beforehand, so tears come easily.” 

Huo Xiaodi found it even more amusing, laughing and scolding, “This monkey even fooled me! So it seems Zhan owes Little Zhao a favor now?” 

Zhan Rifei shook his head. “Zhan owes him far too many favors already.” 

Huo Xiaodi tilted his head to look at him. “I didn’t expect you to be quite familiar with Little Zhao. Otherwise, how would you know about Zhao Zhi’er’s little tricks?—Why have I never heard Little Zhao mention you?” 

Zhan Rifei smiled wryly. “It’s just that I know more about Ming Zhu’er than Zhao Zhi’er. How could Zhao Zhi’er not know the tricks invented by Ming Zhu’er?” 

Huo Xiaodi curiously leaned forward, as if he were a detective from Kaifeng asking about a case. He asked, half in schadenfreude and half with a glimmer of hope, “So how do you know Ming Zhu’er?” 

—“Could it be that they once played tricks on you?” 

—“How could they possibly trick you?” 

Zhan Rifei laughed. “They never played tricks on me, but they certainly caused me a lot of trouble. The children in Dongjing have made up nursery rhymes about all their exploits; this coffin-delivering incident isn’t even their most famous.” 

A hint of pride flashed across Huo Xiaodi’s face, as if hearing praise for these events was enough to satisfy him. He vaguely remarked, “Even their servants are quite remarkable.” Then, glancing at the sleeping boy, he muttered to himself, “If we send you to the Southern Qing Palace, wouldn’t he bully you to death?” 

Unbeknownst to him, this “he” referred to either Prince Zhao or the “God Sees and God Fears” Zhao Zhi’er. 

A smile seemed to play at the corners of Zhan Rifei’s mouth as if he hadn’t noticed Huo Xiaodi’s inner thoughts. He pondered for a moment before changing the subject. “Huo, have you thought about what background this child has?”

(Part Three)

The night birds outside the dilapidated temple cooed a few times before falling silent again. 

When the night birds called, a flicker of alertness crossed Zhan Rifei’s face, which soon relaxed. The crackling bonfire cast a flickering light on Huo Xiaodi’s contemplative face. The frail boy remained lost in his dreams, while Huo Xiaodi’s thoughts shifted back to Zhan Rifei’s question.

For the first time, he sat quietly for a long while before speaking. Zhan Rifei suddenly noticed that when Huo Xiaodi was silent, his furrowed brow resembled that of the young master of Linglong Mountain Manor, Huo Feng. However, while Huo Xiaodi often frowned, it seemed far more difficult for him to remain silent while doing so.

Finally, Huo Xiaodi admitted candidly, “What I originally wanted to know was indeed the secret that this child knows.” He couldn’t help but shoot Zhan Rifei a glance, as if to say, “You guessed it.” Under the weight of Zhan Rifei’s penetrating gaze, his tone unconsciously shifted to a defensive one. 

—“First it was Xingyun Manor and the Tang Clan, and now the Cold Water Palace seems very interested in the secret this child possesses. Can I not be curious?” 

—“Ge Yunfei is dead, and the people from Xingyun Manor who came with him have been completely wiped out by the Tang Clan. Now, the whereabouts of the treasure that Xingyun Manor and the Tang Clan are fighting over may truly be known only to this child.”

He sighed again and added, “But now that I think about it, everything seems to have become a tangled mess.” 

Zhan Rifei pondered for a moment before responding slowly, “Actually, this matter has always been quite peculiar. It seems to me that there are two lines involved, yet they do not connect.” 

Huo Xiaodi asked, “What are those two lines?” 

Zhan Rifei explained, “The first line is the one involving Xingyun Manor and the Tang Clan. Since this child is disabled and cannot practice martial arts, how did he end up mingling with the people from Xingyun Manor? I’ve been unable to understand why Xingyun Manor, which typically discards the useless, would take a child who cannot fight along with them.” 

Huo Xiaodi nodded, “When I first saw this child, I wanted to find someone to take him to Xingyun Manor. But when he heard it was to Xingyun Manor, he was terrified. If this child is an enemy of Xingyun Manor or the child of an enemy, that might explain it. —The people from Xingyun Manor would either want to take him back to the manor or use him as a hostage. Having spent so much time with them, he might have inadvertently discovered their secrets!” 

Zhan Rifei shook his head and said softly, “If he were an enemy, then when Ge Yunfei was dying in the inn on Xiaolangtou Mountain, it would have been easy for him to kill the child. Why would he only stab his arm instead of delivering a fatal blow?” 

Huo Xiaodi replied, “That’s true; I find that strange too. Zhan, the child’s arm is covered in scars, with various cuts both new and old. Could it be that he has no connection to Xingyun Manor, that he is not their enemy, but rather that his own family abused him, and he escaped, only to encounter the people from Xingyun Manor on the road?” 

As soon as he spoke, he recalled Zhan Rifei’s earlier comments about Xingyun Manor and felt that his reasoning was full of holes. 

Zhan Rifei shook his head again. His face, illuminated by the firelight, remained pale and now appeared even more fatigued; he seemed to feel a chill and slowly moved closer to the fire. 

“If it were his family’s doing and had nothing to do with Xingyun Manor, then why would Ge Yunfei stab him before dying?” 

Huo Xiaodi’s eyes brightened, and he exclaimed excitedly, “Most likely, his family is from Xingyun Manor! Otherwise, if it weren’t the people of Xingyun Manor, why would he be so unwilling to return?” 

Zhan Rifei replied, “Huo, did you not see how Jiao Chaogui glanced at the child when he entered the inn? It was clear they were not familiar with each other. Xingyun Manor is well-known in the Central Plains and has Ma Chaoxian backing it. Jiao Chaogui is meticulous and detail-oriented. The child’s scars are both new and old, indicating he has suffered this torment since childhood. If he were from Xingyun Manor, how could Jiao Chaogui not recognize him?” 

His deep-set eyes gazed into the night sky as he murmured, “The Tang Clan’s ‘Wuneng Hall’ has sent out three assassins, clearly intent on obtaining this item. They had already seized the package, yet they returned it, indicating that the item was not in the package. Earlier, they thoroughly searched all the corpses in the hall but found nothing—could it be that the item is truly hidden within this child?” 

Huo Xiaodi frowned and said, “But this child is dressed too thinly to hide anything.” 

Zhan Rifei replied, “Indeed! The package on Ge Yunfei’s body is likely a diversion. If he wanted others to believe the treasure was in his package, he would have to make it convincing. His package is not small, and by that logic, the people from the Tang Clan should know that what they are looking for cannot be too small. Moreover, since this item is something the Tang Clan covets, it must be significant. Regardless of whether this child is an enemy of Xingyun Manor or just a chance encounter, how could Ge Yunfei, as the third master, place the treasure on him? —Unless—” 

He suddenly fell into deep thought. 

Huo Xiaodi asked, “Unless what?” 

Zhan Rifei replied, “Unless I’m mistaken. There may be a third line involved!” 

Huo Xiaodi felt overwhelmed. Upon hearing that there was a third line, he quickly waved his hand, “Wait! First tell me, what is this second line?” 

Zhan Rifei contemplated and said, “The second line is related to the Cold Water Palace.” 

Huo Xiaodi asked, “What clue is there from the Cold Water Palace?” 

Zhan Rifei explained, “It’s something the Moon Master of the Cold Water Palace said.” 

Huo Xiaodi scoffed, “What did that eerie woman say?” 

Zhan Rifei replied, “The Moon Master spoke about this child. She said, ‘He is the lifeblood that the old lady has been yearning for day and night.’ She also said, ‘As for the medicine, he has been accustomed to drinking it since childhood. —If he didn’t drink it, how could he have lived until now?’” 

Huo Xiaodi lowered his head, beginning to ponder these strange words. 

Zhan Rifei continued, “I saw with my own eyes that they forced this child to drink a bowl of poison. How could such a young child willingly drink poison every day? If he had been drinking this poison since childhood, how could he have survived until now without dying?” 

Huo Xiaodi frowned and blurted out, “I’ve heard of some unorthodox practices that involve training with poisonous palms and toxic skills, perhaps for his training?” 

Zhan Rifei replied, “If that were the case, he should at least have some martial skills, but look at his bones and muscles; he has never practiced martial arts.” 

Zhan Rifei continued, “One thing is very clear: this child has been forced to drink poison since childhood, and the Cold Water Palace must know the formula. So either this child has a significant connection to the Cold Water Palace, or he may even be one of their own, or the Cold Water Palace knows him very well!” 

“Perhaps the Cold Water Palace knows what his secret is but cannot obtain the location of that secret, which is why even someone like the Cold Water Old Lady is yearning for this poison, trying to coerce him into revealing the secret.” 

At this point, he shook his head, as if he felt that this reasoning was not very sound. 

—“What is this child’s relationship with the Cold Water Palace?” 

—“If this child is indeed from the Cold Water Palace, then even if the people from Xingyun Manor are domineering, they would likely not dare to offend the Cold Water Old Lady for the sake of this child.” 

Huo Xiaodi added, “That’s right; I’ve also heard that everyone in the Cold Water Palace is exceptionally skilled, even the servants who sweep and cook possess remarkable abilities. From this perspective, this child should not be one of the Cold Water Palace’s people. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he have any martial skills? And why would the Cold Water Old Lady force him to drink this poison since childhood?” 

Zhan Rifei seemed not to have heard him or perhaps understood him. He murmured, “The people in the Cold Water Palace are indeed favored by the Cold Water Old Lady and are taught martial arts; the Cold Water Old Lady would naturally not force her subordinates to drink poison.” 

As he spoke, the muscles in his face twitched, as if the pain from his injuries had flared up, causing him to inhale sharply. “However, sometimes what seems unreasonable may be the most powerful explanation.” 

His words were suddenly interrupted. —With a soft “thud,” a small porcelain bottle was tossed across the fire and landed in his lap. Huo Xiaodi’s nonchalant voice came from across the fire. 

—“Is your wound hurting again? Then take another Linglong Honey pill.” 

—“Why do you always pretend to be strong when your wound hurts? If it were Little Zhao, he would have been whining and rolling around in bed, crying out loud. I’ve never heard anyone say he’s not a hero but a coward.” 

His tone was stern, but his gaze was warm, for the person across the fire also had a warmth in their eyes. This warmth, perhaps due to the mutual acquaintance they shared, began to subtly permeate the space between the two by the fire. 

Huo Xiaodi’s eyes were fixed on Zhan Rifei as he swallowed the pill as if he were ready to whip him into compliance. 

Zhan Rifei couldn’t help but laugh, “I didn’t expect the people from Linglong Mountain Manor to be more meticulous than girls at times.” 

As soon as he said this, he wished he could take another kind of medicine: a regret pill. 

—Because Huo Xiaodi suddenly jumped up like a tiger that had its tail stepped on. His rabbit-like teeth were bared, just like a tiger that had its tail stepped on. His hands were already on his hips, ready to start a quarrel.

But at that moment, Zhan Rifei said something that turned the tiger back into a cat. 

—“Why are you so fond of bringing up Little Zhao tonight?” 

Upon hearing this, Huo Xiaodi shot him a fierce glare, then, surprisingly, sat back down with a hint of grievance. Although he sat down, he muttered, “If it weren’t for seeing you injured and waiting to hear your reasoning, I wouldn’t be so patient with you!”

(Part Four)

The torches emitted a greasy, acrid smoke. 

Under the torchlight, Yan Ziqing’s face appeared shiny and slick. The soldiers standing respectfully beside him held the torches high above their heads, allowing him to see the ground before him. Yan Ziqing merely crouched down lightly, pinching a handful of the damp earth beneath him. When he stood up, the soil clinging to his fingers was still sticky. 

That was soil stained with blood. 

He turned back and said, “It seems there has been a battle here, and someone has bled!” 

“There were at least four people here! One of them, from start to finish, seems to have hardly moved; his martial skills should be the weakest!” 

“Looking at their footprints, some deep and some shallow, it appears their struggle was quite fierce!” 

Mo Dao, standing behind him, had been staring at the fallen leaves scattered on the ground. The tender, originally green leaves, soaked by the continuous rain, now reflected the flickering torchlight, resembling the fallen petals of late autumn. 

—But autumn has not yet arrived; why are there so many fallen leaves? 

Mo Dao’s wide, old robe fluttered in the night wind, and his hair bun cast a long shadow on the ground. His face appeared even darker under the torchlight. 

Yan Ziqing also noticed the leaves scattered on the ground. His pupils suddenly constricted. “Could it be him?” 

Mo Dao’s voice came out as if squeezed through his teeth. “Who else could execute the ‘Thousand Jun Dragon Strangle’?” 

Yan Ziqing said, “But the Cold Water Palace has not been active in the martial world for over twenty years. Why have they suddenly appeared here? Are they also targeting our Xiangyang Prince’s residence? And who is the one facing him?” 

—The soaked leaves would be incredibly difficult to slice off one by one with a sword. Only the overwhelming force of the ‘Thousand Jun Dragon Strangle’ could tear through the air and shatter lives. 

—Who could withstand such a powerful strike? 

Mo Dao’s voice was low. Several times, Yan Ziqing almost thought it was Shao Jizhu speaking. In the “Jinshi Hall,” he feared Shao Jizhu the most. Every time he encountered the dark-faced Daoist, he would be very respectful, never speaking a word unnecessarily. Now, seeing Mo Dao’s expression in the firelight, he understood that his current role was merely to listen! 

Mo Dao spoke slowly, for he never wasted a single word. 

—“The one facing him is using a sword, not a knife!” 

—“If it weren’t for my ‘Familiarity at First Sight’ technique, I would almost think it was him!” 

Yan Ziqing cautiously said, “Given his current situation, why would he provoke a strong enemy for no reason? Even if he has attracted the attention of the Cold Water Palace, how could he withstand the ‘Thousand Jun Dragon Strangle’?” 

Mo Dao seemed not to have heard him. His gaze appeared to merge with the night. 

The night was deep, and his eyes were even deeper than the boundless darkness. 

The people in the woods were silently waiting! 

After a long while, the silent Daoist in his old robe finally spoke two sentences. Two sentences that sounded perplexing to others but were understood by everyone present. 

—“Whether the one receiving the ‘Thousand Jun Dragon Strangle’ is him or not, the hour of the rat is approaching.” 

—“Our second opportunity today is at the hour of the rat.” 

(Part Five)

The firelight in the dilapidated temple dimmed further. 

Under the flickering light, Huo Xiaodi seemed to have forgotten his earlier anger. This was because he still could not comprehend the mystery surrounding the sleeping boy beside him. 

Zhan Rifei had returned to the original topic. 

He pondered and said, “Let’s set aside the first and second lines for now. The third line I’m referring to is this child himself.” 

—“Who inflicted all these scars on his arm? These scars are both new and old, varying in shape, indicating they were inflicted at different times by different people. Who could bear to be so cruel to such a child?” 

—“Since he can hear others speaking but cannot speak himself, he wasn’t born mute. How did he become mute, or who caused it?” 

—“When we came from the edge of the woods to this temple, did you notice any fragrance on him that has been following us all this way?” 

Huo Xiaodi nodded. His keen nose detected it: “Indeed, there is a faint herbal scent. It was present in the inn, but now it is even fainter than yesterday. If I’m not mistaken, it should be the scent coming from this child.” 

—“But what does this scent mean? It can’t be used as medicine!” 

This remark sparked something in Zhan Rifei. A glimmer of starlight appeared in his eyes. His pale face suddenly seemed to glow, making it hard to look directly at him, and his usually calm voice held a hint of impatience. 

“Indeed. These three lines may just be one line. I have overlooked one person, and this person is likely the key connecting these three lines!” 

Huo Xiaodi asked, “Who is this person you’re talking about?” 

Zhan Rifei articulated each word carefully: “This person is Ge Yunfei!” 

Huo Xiaodi exclaimed in surprise, “But Ge Yunfei is already dead!” 

Zhan Rifei replied meaningfully, “Sometimes, the dead can still speak.” 

Huo Xiaodi stared at him with his mouth agape, as if he had suddenly discovered that this calm and composed figure in black had begun to speak nonsense. His curiosity piqued, he asked, “So what did this dead man say to you?” 

Zhan Rifei smiled and said, “Before he died, he indeed hinted at the secret of Xingyun Manor.” 

Huo Xiaodi was even more confused. “He? When did he hint at that secret? I was right beside him; how did I not see it?” 

Zhan Rifei said, “Ge Yunfei’s actions before he died were very strange. —Huo, do you remember what he was doing just before he died?” 

Huo Xiaodi’s face flushed slightly in the dark, and he replied defiantly, “Wasn’t he trying to kill this child? What was so strange about that?! If it weren’t for the Tang Clan’s poison acting quickly, and if I hadn’t arrived in time, this child would have likely become his ghost under the knife!” 

The smile at the corner of Zhan Rifei’s mouth deepened. He asked Huo Xiaodi a peculiar question, one that left Huo Xiaodi momentarily speechless. 

“If he wanted to harm this child, after stabbing him, why didn’t he immediately stab him again but instead pull him toward himself?” 

Huo Xiaodi was taken aback. 

Everything that had happened yesterday in the inn on Xiaolangtou Mountain seemed to replay vividly in his mind. 

—Blood splattering. 

—The boy’s frail, freckled face contorted in pain. The pain of being injured. The pain of being unable to speak. The helpless pain. 

—He had rushed forward to prevent Ge Yunfei from delivering a second stab. 

—But he had not seen that anticipated second stab! 

In his memory, he only recalled Ge Yunfei’s rough, muddy hand gripping the boy’s bleeding arm tightly. 

—His wide-open eyes before he died. 

—His hand that would not let go. 

—His head hanging over the boy’s arm. 

Could it be—could it be— 

Huo Xiaodi looked at Zhan Rifei in disbelief: “Are you saying that Ge Yunfei’s hint was this child?” 

—“The treasure the Tang Clan has been killing for is this child?” 

—“The one the people of Xingyun Manor risked their lives to escort is also this child?” 

—“The one the Cold Water Palace’s Cold Water Old Lady yearns for day and night is still this child?” 

Zhan Rifei smiled and slowly stood up. Looking out through the broken window of the temple at the boundless night, he gently yet firmly said, “Indeed. The treasure that the Tang Clan and Xingyun Manor desire is this child; it’s just that aside from Ge Yunfei, they are unaware. The people from the Cold Water Palace, however, know everything.” 

Huo Xiaodi suddenly felt ridiculous for his and Zhan Rifei’s wild speculation: “This child is weak and mute; there’s nothing extraordinary about him, just a faint herbal scent. Even if you’re right, if he is the coveted treasure of the Tang Clan and Xingyun Manor, why would Ge Yunfei try to kill him before he died?” 

—“Could it be that he knew that since Xingyun Manor could not obtain him, he would not let the Tang Clan have him either?” 

Zhan Rifei turned back with a smile and said, word by word, “Because Ge Yunfei already knew the true secret: it is this child. He stabbed this child before he died not to kill him, but to save his own life!” 

—“He stabbed his arm, just like others who had harmed this child, to drink his blood.” 

—“An innocent man suffers for possessing a precious gem. This child is the Changhong Bi of the Cold Water Palace!” 

—“According to ancient lore, the Cold Water Palace has treasured the rare gem Changhong Bi for a hundred years, nourished by the ‘Bi Yan San Sheng Shui,’ and has never shown it to anyone.” 

—“The value of this gem lies in its ability to neutralize all poisons; it is said that no poison can harm it. Who would have expected that this Changhong Bi is a person, not a piece of jade?” 

[Ming] Zhang Dai’s Night Sailing Boat records the transformation of Changhong into blood jade: “The tomb of Changhong is in Yanshi. He was a virtuous minister of King Ling of Zhou, wrongfully killed. His blood was hidden, and after three years, it transformed into jade.”

(Part Six)

With a soft “swoosh,” it seemed a night bird startled and flew up into the sky. 

Looking up, one could see that without realizing it, a crescent moon had emerged from behind the dark clouds, likely the cause of the night birds’ fright. The shadowy clouds between the mountains could contain the moon, but they could not hold back the moonlight’s clear radiance. For a moment, even the small temple in the mountains was unexpectedly bathed in a layer of white residual light. 

The mottled moonlight made Zhan Rifei’s face appear even paler. However, it seemed that Huo Xiaodi’s complexion was not much better than his. 

Huo Xiaodi’s face was filled with astonishment, and upon hearing Zhan Rifei’s words, he looked as if he had seen a ghost. “You mean to say that this child is the Changhong Bi of the Cold Water Palace?” 

—The Changhong Bi of the Cold Water Palace, said to be immune to all poisons, had long been a myth in the martial world. Various mysterious legends surrounded this jade-like gem, but no one had ever seen the truth of this jade bi. 

Zhan Rifei replied, “I would rather he were not. I fear that the various legends we hear in the martial world are merely a trap set by the Cold Water Palace.” 

Huo Xiaodi still hadn’t recovered from his shock and murmured, “‘Nourished by the water, it emits fragrance, sustained by the Bi Yan San Sheng Shui’—” 

—“Then, the ‘Bi Yan San Sheng Shui’ that the woman from the Cold Water Palace forced him to drink is indeed that?” 

—“I can smell the herbal fragrance on him; it was indeed present in the Xiaolangtou Inn after the heavy rain!” 

Zhan Rifei gazed at the sleeping boy and gently nodded, sighing softly, “Perhaps in the eyes of the Cold Water Old Lady, he is not a child at all, but merely a precious antidote raised by the Cold Water Palace. Thus, although he was born in the Cold Water Palace, he has never been regarded as a human.” 

However, Huo Xiaodi quickly furrowed his brows again. “I’ve heard that the Changhong Bi has belonged to the Cold Water Palace for over a hundred years. If this child is the Changhong Bi, does that mean he is over a hundred years old? If so, why does he still look like a child?” 

Zhan Rifei replied, “Don’t forget, the ‘Bi Yan San Sheng Shui’ is a poison that can corrode bones and flesh. If what the Moon Master said is true, and this child has been drinking this poison since childhood, perhaps he was born with a unique constitution. Moreover, while the Changhong Bi has been a treasured possession of the Cold Water Palace for a century, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is the same person. Even in your Linglong Mountain Manor, haven’t the eldest daughters throughout the generations all been named Huo Linglong?” 

Upon hearing the name “Huo Linglong,” Huo Xiaodi involuntarily shuddered. He stared at Zhan Rifei in surprise, speechless for a moment, before finally letting out a long sigh. “Sometimes I want to know whether you are a person or a ghost. You seem to know so much about our Linglong Mountain Manor!” 

Zhan Rifei smiled and said, “Perhaps it’s not that I know a lot, but that your Linglong Mountain Manor is simply too famous.” 

—It is well-known in the martial world that half of Linglong Mountain Manor’s current reputation is due to Huo Linglong. Whenever the eldest daughter of the Huo family gets married, it becomes a sensational event in the martial world, and whenever she is still in her boudoir, suitors are already trampling the threshold of Linglong Mountain Manor. 

For the first time, a hint of pain appeared in Huo Xiaodi’s eyes. Was everything about Linglong Mountain Manor, like its owner, already aging? 

Zhan Rifei’s brow furrowed slightly, but he did not press further. 

Huo Xiaodi seemed quite satisfied with his answer. 

—Perhaps he vaguely understood that this was the best response Zhan Rifei could give him. Moreover, in his heart, he already had too many questions about this child named Changhong Bi. 

“Since Ge Yunfei already knew this child’s secret, how could Jiao Chaogui, the grand master of Xingyun Manor, not know that he is the Changhong Bi?” 

Zhan Rifei pondered and said, “Perhaps Jiao Chaogui, although aware that the Changhong Bi is in Ge Yunfei’s hands and has received his message to come to assist, did not have time to learn the secret of the Changhong Bi from Ge Yunfei.” 

“Perhaps the people from the Tang Clan had already learned that Ge Yunfei possessed the Changhong Bi and immediately pursued him relentlessly, not allowing him to send any new messages.” 

“This might explain why Jiao Chaogui was so bold as to only bring Mu Xiuquan when he came to the Xiaolangtou Inn to assist. They simply did not expect that those competing for the Changhong Bi would arrive so quickly, and unexpectedly, you, Cheng Yaojin, would appear in the middle of the road.” 

Huo Xiaodi pondered similarly and countered, “Among all those competing for the Changhong Bi, only the Tang Clan has a different purpose. They want to seize the Changhong Bi only to destroy it! This child, having been in the Cold Water Palace, should have seen and heard much, and should be pleased to know about the conflict between Xingyun Manor and the Tang Clan. Why, upon hearing that I proposed to send him to Xingyun Manor, does he seem terrified?” 

Zhan Rifei replied, “He likely knows that both Xingyun Manor and the Tang Clan are formidable forces. The Tang Clan wants to destroy him; do you think the people from Xingyun Manor would treat him any better? Given his situation, although he would prefer to fall into the hands of Xingyun Manor rather than the Tang Clan, regardless of which side he falls into, his secret will eventually be discovered. Rather than being at the mercy of others, he would rather take the risk. That’s why he incited your ‘San Er’ dog to take action while the Tang Clan’s ‘Wuneng Hall’ assassins were engaged in battle with Xingyun Manor.” 

Huo Xiaodi felt as if struck by lightning, trembling as he said, “What did you say?” 

Zhan Rifei knew he had understood his words and continued, “If you think carefully, when the Tang Clan’s ‘Wuneng Hall’ fought against Jiao Chaogui and Mu Xiuquan if it weren’t for your San Er charging into the fray, the people from Xingyun Manor would likely have struggled to win.” 

Once Zhan Rifei pointed this out, Huo Xiaodi’s mind raced. “At that time, there was indeed only him by my San Er’s side. My San Er is very intelligent; since I had already commanded him, he would never disobey my orders and act on his own unless someone else incited him.” 

At this thought, his eyes widened. His mouth was filled with disbelief: “You’re lying! My San Er has been with me for so long; how could he be manipulated by him?” 

Yet how much did he truly believe this statement? 

A complex look flashed in Zhan Rifei’s eyes. “If your San Er wouldn’t listen to others, then why did he initially show no hostility toward him and always circle him? Given San Er’s nature, don’t you think your dog has been overly friendly with him from the start?” 

His deep gaze turned toward the moonlight breaking through the broken door as if merging with the moonlight itself. 

“I can only hope that all these speculations are wrong. But looking at the situation, your San Er seems to have been enchanted. According to ancient lore, this enchantment must be practiced by a young boy, and once it reaches a certain level, it must be complemented by internal energy. This child cannot practice martial arts; even if he did learn this enchantment, he wouldn’t be able to master it. However, to deal with your clever dog, it might still be more than enough.” 

—“The only thing I don’t understand is if he grew up in the Cold Water Palace, where did he learn this enchantment?” 

—“Could this be the reason he left the Cold Water Palace?” 

He looked at the boy’s tense and guarded face in his sleep and gently shook his head. “I fear the reason for this is something only you can know.” 

Huo Xiaodi’s head finally drooped. “No wonder San Er would suddenly pounce and bite; it turns out it was him—” 

When he lifted his head, there was a determination in his eyes. “I didn’t expect him to harm San Er. If it is him, I will not let him go!” 

Zhan Rifei sighed lightly and said, “Huo, up to this point, we are still only speculating and cannot draw conclusions. Everything we have is merely the most likely answer, but we cannot use this to accuse others.” 

Huo Xiaodi gritted his teeth and said, “What if our speculation is correct?” 

Zhan Rifei replied, “If that were the case if you were in his position, would you not do the same?” 

Huo Xiaodi was taken aback. 

Zhan Rifei’s words, though spoken softly and slowly, struck Huo Xiaodi’s heart like a resounding bell. 

—“If our speculation is correct, and he indeed grew up in the Cold Water Palace, then who taught him right from wrong? What would he have absorbed from his surroundings?” 

—“If you were in his shoes, knowing that the price of your life is endless pain and the torment of being forced to drink poison every day and that everyone around you sees you not as a person but as an object, who would you trust?” 

—“If our speculation is correct, and he truly is the Changhong Bi, then why would he, alone and lost in the martial world, have to believe that you mean him no harm? How could he know that your intention to save him is not because he is the Changhong Bi?” 

—“Even if he were younger than his age, he should understand that once his secret is discovered, it would surely attract everyone’s greed. He has no martial skills, and in the martial world, everyone desires him. To protect his life, what means would he not resort to?” 

—“Are you willing to take a life for a dog? Is his life truly worth less than a dog’s?” 

For the first time in his life, Huo Xiaodi was left speechless. Having grown up in the pampered environment of the world’s number one manor, he was used to being in control; he had never considered that a person’s life could be as light as a feather or as worthless as a shoe. 

After a long while, he finally sighed deeply and said, “I understand. —I do not blame him.” 

Zhan Rifei’s brow relaxed. He also sighed lightly and said, “I did not misjudge; Huo, you truly have a broad mind. The reason Linglong Mountain Manor can dominate the martial world is indeed due to its knowledge of benevolence and righteousness, surpassing others—” Before he could finish the word “place,” he suddenly found it hard to catch his breath and coughed! 

The fire crackled softly. Amid the flickering flames, Huo Xiaodi finally noticed that he didn’t know when Zhan Rifei’s voice had grown weaker. 

After this cough, he realized that Zhan Rifei’s complexion was becoming increasingly worse. 

His lips, under the pale mottled moonlight, seemed to have turned a bluish-purple. The muscles on his face were faintly trembling, and a layer of dense sweat had begun to seep from his forehead. 

Huo Xiaodi’s brow furrowed slightly. “After taking two Linglong Honey pills, why is your wound still hurting?” 

—Although Zhan Rifei had not shown him the wound on his back, Huo Xiaodi knew that Linglong Mountain Manor’s Linglong Honey was a world-renowned healing medicine, rare and sought after. Now, casually taking two pills, Zhan Rifei still could not endure; could it be that the Cold Water Palace’s “Chang Xiang Si” had some kind of sorcery that even Linglong Honey could not withstand? 

Zhan Rifei forced a smile and was about to speak when a wave of blood surged up, preventing him from speaking. His body softened, and he collapsed to the ground. 

Only then did Huo Xiaodi realize that since he had fought with the two people from the Cold Water Palace, he had been relying on his internal energy to hold on. Now, however, the wound had flared up, and he could no longer support himself. He couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise, leaping to his side. 

Zhan Rifei took a long breath and finally regained his composure. Seeing the concerned expression on Huo Xiaodi’s face, he still wore a relaxed demeanor. “Don’t worry; I won’t die. I just need you to help me one more time.” 

Although Huo Xiaodi had not known him for long, he understood that despite Zhan Rifei’s gentle appearance, he was quite resilient. At this critical moment, he no longer cared about joking about favors and urgently asked, “What do you need help with?” 

Zhan Rifei’s eyes were already too painful to open, and his words had become slurred. Huo Xiaodi had to lean close to his lips to barely hear him clearly: “Mo Huo restrains the Cold Water; I can’t worry about that anymore. I can only trouble your ‘Yin Yang Hound.’” 

Huo Xiaodi asked, “My ‘Yin Yang Hound’?” 

Zhan Rifei replied, “Yes, this is a long story. I was stabbed by that ‘Chang Xiang Si’—”

(Part Seven)

The pale crescent moon at the mountain’s edge swiftly traversed through the dark clouds. The rainy night was gradually maturing, approaching midnight. 

Midnight is when a person’s bloodline is weakest when the yin energy is strongest, and thus, it is said to be the time when the spirits that patrol the night are most active. 

A gust of night wind blew through the half-closed temple door, causing Huo Xiaodi to shiver involuntarily. His hand trembled slightly. Because he was gripping the “Yin Yang Hound” tightly, the veins on the back of his hand had begun to bulge. 

The black blade of the “Yin Yang Hound” seemed to be a spirit in the night. Perhaps under the influence of his internal energy, it emitted a soft hissing sound like a demon. 

Zhan Rifei forced himself to take a deep breath, circulating his internal energy. Despite the pain and fatigue weighing down on him like a mountain, his demeanor remained serene, as if Huo Xiaodi were not about to cut into his own body. 

In contemplation, Huo Xiaodi said from behind, “Aren’t you afraid I might take the opportunity to stab you in the back?” 

Zhan Rifei replied, “Does Huo want to give it a try?” 

Huo Xiaodi surprisingly did not deny it. 

Zhan Rifei smiled—at this moment, he could still manage a smile: “Aren’t you afraid that I’ll owe you a favor that can never be repaid?” 

Huo Xiaodi chuckled, “If you don’t mention it, I’ll forget. Don’t worry, it’s not easy for someone like you, who never wants to owe anyone, to owe me a favor. How could I let you die so easily?” 

As he spoke, his right hand had already raised the “Yin Yang Hound.” 

Silently, the “Yin Yang Hound” sliced through the fabric of Zhan Rifei’s back, and then cut into the wound. 

The wound was not deep, but the blood flowed surprisingly slowly. Did the black short sword possess some strange power? 

As the blade entered his body, the slow flow of blood must have brought pain that an ordinary person could not endure, yet Zhan Rifei did not even let out a groan. 

Huo Xiaodi pressed around the wound, using the “Yin Yang Hound” to push aside the blood, but he could not see any foreign object within the wound. 

However, his hand quickly became stained with Zhan Rifei’s blood, which felt strangely cold. 

Huo Xiaodi’s pupils suddenly constricted; his heart began to race. He could even hear his breathing, which had suddenly become heavy. 

Zhan Rifei felt the hand on his shoulder tremble slightly. Then, a drop of something warm fell onto his neck. 

Opening his eyes and turning his head, he found Huo Xiaodi’s dark, bright eyes and white rabbit-like teeth almost touching his face. 

He looked at him with some confusion. The pain and fatigue had dulled his immediate reaction. In his dazed state, it seemed he saw a layer of moisture in those large eyes. 

“You people from Linglong Mountain Manor are surprisingly emotional?” 

Huo Xiaodi gritted his teeth and remained silent. It seemed he was unwilling to answer Zhan Rifei’s question. 

The “Yin Yang Hound” in his hand, for some reason, began to feel warm as if it were seeking something, trying to break free from his grasp. 

A faint sound, like a tiny sigh, came from the extraordinary weapon as if it had encountered something. 

Soon, he saw a small silver object, as if it had suddenly emerged, originally embedded in the flesh of the wound, and in an instant, it attached itself to his “Yin Yang Hound.” 

On the black blade, it seemed as if a small eye had suddenly sprouted—a silver eye! In a daze, it appeared to blink at him. 

The small silver object was removed and placed on the ground, still emitting an evil glow. 

Huo Xiaodi felt the “Yin Yang Hound” tremble again. The silver object seemed to possess a sinister pull, calling to the dark weapon in his hand. 

“What is this thing?” 

Zhan Rifei’s complexion had improved. His gaze became calm again. 

“What you see is a fragment of the Cold Water Palace’s first divine weapon from a hundred years ago. It has a strange name: ‘Chang Xiang Si.’” 

Huo Xiaodi looked left and right, saying, “I don’t see anything special about it.” 

Zhan Rifei explained, “The ‘Chang Xiang Si’ is remarkable because it is made from the silk of heavenly silkworms and the mysterious iron from beneath the Cold Water Palace. When it moves, it is shadowy and formless. If activated by the Cold Water Palace’s ‘Rao Zhi Rou,’ it can seize the initiative and leave the enemy defenseless.” 

Huo Xiaodi asked, “Since it is made with mysterious iron, why is there no trace of black?” 

Zhan Rifei replied, “This mysterious iron is not ordinary; it comes from a rare stone found beneath the cold pool of the Cold Water Palace. In the water, it appears black. However, once it leaves the cold pool, it becomes colorless.” 

He continued, “Its true color is transparent. If it weren’t for Huo’s ‘Yin Yang Hound,’ which was refined with Yin Yang fire, the ‘Chang Xiang Si’ wouldn’t change upon contact, and you wouldn’t be able to see it.” 

Huo Xiaodi slowly said, “So, this ‘Chang Xiang Si’ is indeed a divine weapon and only a powerful figure from the Cold Water Palace can wield it.” 

Zhan Rifei confirmed, “Indeed, this was originally the signature weapon of the Moon Master among the four masters under the Cold Water Old Lady.” 

Huo Xiaodi propped his chin, gazing at the moonlight on the ground, clearly deep in thought. Under the illumination of the moonlight and firelight, something seemed to flicker in his eyes. 

He remained silent for a long time before slowly lifting his head. 

“There have been many things I haven’t understood but don’t think I can’t guess.” 

—“I must ask you, why did you block the people from the Cold Water Palace for me?” 

—“Who exactly were those two people you blocked for me from the Cold Water Palace?” 

—“We agreed to owe each other nothing, yet you sent me to deal with the Hua family’s brothers. Is it because you already knew in your heart that I couldn’t handle those two from the Cold Water Palace?” 

—“You are capable of dealing with the Hua family, aren’t you?” 

Zhan Rifei seemed taken aback by his question. He did not directly answer but smiled faintly, “Perhaps I anticipated that I would need your help many times in the future.” 

Huo Xiaodi replied, “That reason doesn’t seem very good.” 

Zhan Rifei surprisingly admitted, “Indeed, it’s not very good.” 

Huo Xiaodi said, “Fortunately since I just removed this piece of ‘Chang Xiang Si’ that was embedded in your back, I suppose I no longer owe you anything?” 

Zhan Rifei asked, “What do you mean, Huo?” 

Huo Xiaodi interrupted him, “What I mean is, your wound is still bleeding.” 

As he spoke, he reached out, seemingly wanting to stop the bleeding and cover the torn fabric on his back. 

But this outstretched hand, he didn’t know when had already turned into a finger! 

Zhan Rifei suddenly felt a tingling sensation in his back, a fine, silent force piercing through his entire body like a bolt of lightning. He could no longer hold on and finally collapsed to the ground! 

—Who had plotted against him? 

—And why did they want to plot against him? 

As Zhan Rifei fell to the ground, he already knew the answer. This answer was as obvious as lice on a bald head; even if he couldn’t see it, he could guess it with his feet. 

—“Coming like a spring dream for a while, leaving like morning clouds with no trace,” these two lines of poetry describe the supreme martial arts of Linglong Mountain Manor: the internal technique of “Listening to the Flowers in the Small Building for a Night” and the external technique of “A Glimpse of the Surprising Swan.” 

—Even if he couldn’t deduce that this finger technique came from the internal power of “Listening to the Flowers in the Small Building for a Night,” he should have seen that, aside from the exquisite deerskin boots on Huo Xiaodi’s feet, another object had appeared before him. 

—Huo Xiaodi’s “Yin Yang Hound” was already pointed at his throat! 

The “Yin Yang Hound” emitted a sound like a sigh. The black blade, under the firelight, resembled a black devil grinning. The aura of that devil had already made his throat feel slightly painful. 

Huo Xiaodi’s voice came from above as if he were sighing. 

“Of all the things that shouldn’t have happened, you shouldn’t have let me see your back.” 

As he spoke, his tone turned stern, yet his hand inexplicably began to tremble slightly. 

—“Who exactly are you?” 

—“Is your goal also the ‘Changhong Bi’?” 

His voice had unknowingly risen high. Just then, a hoarse voice, sounding like a child just learning to speak, came from beside the fire, stuttering: “You—, you—!” 

Although Zhan Rifei was restrained by Huo Xiaodi, he remained calm. Even though Huo Xiaodi’s “Yin Yang Hound” could cut his throat at any moment, he did not change his expression. However, upon hearing that hoarse, weak voice, a spark of realization flashed in his eyes; his expression finally changed.

(Part Eight) 

Huo Xiaodi also heard the dry and mysterious voice. However, before the sound faded, he had already arrived at the source of the voice. His sword had switched from his right hand to his left, and without turning his head, he pointed it at the speaker.

Under the pressure of his ghostly speed and the chilling aura of his sword, the speaker let out a startled “Ah!” and collapsed to the ground with a thud. 

Huo Xiaodi was taken aback. Who was behind him? Who possessed such martial skills that they could approach him unnoticed? If they were skilled, how could they end up on the ground? 

It wasn’t until he saw a hint of a smile at the corner of Zhan Rifei’s mouth that he realized the voice behind him was frivolous and weak, lacking in strength. 

Finally, he turned his head.

Just as he breathed a sigh of relief, he was stunned again. 

—Even if a monstrous creature with a green face and sharp teeth stood behind him, he wouldn’t have frowned. But at this moment, his face looked as if he had truly seen a ghost. His eyes, already large, widened even more, almost popping out of their sockets. His two prominent front teeth were bared without reservation.

—The one who collapsed on the ground was that frail boy! 

The boy had awakened from his slumber. His gaze was equally astonished. 

—But no one knew whether his surprise was due to Huo Xiaodi’s deliberately fierce eyes or because he had heard his own words from earlier. 

At that moment, a flicker of flame on the ground caught the boy’s attention, and he blinked. In an instant, he saw Huo Xiaodi sitting beside Zhan Rifei, his posture suggesting he had never moved. Yet his sword was still pointed at Zhan Rifei’s throat!

The boy gasped. 

—Had he seen a ghost? 

—This young man’s martial skills and agility truly deserved the phrase “a fleeting glimpse”! 

The only difference was that although Huo Xiaodi’s sword was aimed at Zhan Rifei, he did not turn back. 

—His gaze remained fixed on the boy, and it was clear that he was just as confused. 

—”So it’s you? You can speak? Were you pretending to be mute before?” 

The boy, unsure whether he was astonished by his voice or frightened by the glaring sword, stammered after a long pause, “No, I… I am not—” 

His voice was still hoarse and dry, stiff and choked, and his words were difficult to articulate, but this second sentence was slightly more fluid than the first. 

Huo Xiaodi’s heart sank suddenly. 

—Every word the boy spoke seemed to exhaust all his strength, and despite the effort, he still stuttered. Even a baby just learning to speak would likely find it easier. Nevertheless, if he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that this mysteriously identified child had once been mute during the day.

—However, this was not what he most wanted to know right now. What he wanted to know most was the riddle that Zhan Rifei had revealed, which still seemed unbelievable. 

—”Is the person from Han Shui Palace named Chang Hongbi you?” 

As soon as the name “Chang Hongbi” was mentioned, the boy seemed to be struck by a whip; his mouth opened, but no words came out. However, the muscles in his face began to tremble uncontrollably, almost making one think his freckles would shake off.

Huo Xiaodi’s eyes darted around, and he surprisingly waited patiently. 

After a long while, the boy slowly shook his head. Very slowly, but resolutely. 

“I… am not… Chang… Hongbi.” 

His voice was filled with determination, yet it was also full of pain. 

Huo Xiaodi gently said, “Even if you don’t say it, your face has already revealed it. If you are unwilling to admit it, I won’t force you.” 

The boy, Chang Hongbi, showed a hint of surprise in his eyes. 

Huo Xiaodi continued, “But whether you admit it or not, your secret will eventually be discovered.” His gaze finally turned to Zhan Rifei—Zhan Rifei, who had been immobilized by him. 

Was this statement directed at Zhan Rifei as well? 

Zhan Rifei seemed not to have heard his words; judging by his expression, he appeared to be deep in thought. Huo Xiaodi, seeing his nonchalant demeanor, felt a surge of anger rises in his throat. 

He stared at Zhan Rifei and repeated, “In this world, there are no secrets that can be hidden forever!” 

His heart suddenly felt as transparent as crystal. His voice had turned hoarse. 

—”If you hadn’t asked me to retrieve this half of the ‘Chang Xiang Si’ for you, I probably wouldn’t have discovered your secret so quickly! Now, you want me to doubt that you have ulterior motives? That’s impossible.” 

Zhan Rifei finally raised his head. 

“Does Huo Xiong think I also want to get involved with Chang Hongbi?” 

Huo Xiaodi replied in a deep voice, “No matter how well you pretend, you will still leave traces behind—something I should have realized long ago!” 

—”When Ge Yunfei from Xingyun Manor brought Chang Hongbi to the Xiaolangtou Inn, weren’t you there too?” 

—”Just as I was about to rescue this child from Han Shui Palace, who was the one who suggested exchanging with me to deal with the Hua family’s brothers?” 

His eyes fixed intently on Zhan Rifei, he asked, “Did you not expect that the people from Han Shui Palace would cause you to be injured? Otherwise, if you had gotten to him before me, this child would naturally have fallen into your hands. I truly misjudged you!”

His voice turned icy, causing Chang Hongbi beside him to shiver involuntarily. 

Zhan Rifei said, “Has Huo Xiong forgotten that I only just learned that Chang Hongbi is this child?” 

Huo Xiaodi let out a cold laugh. His voice was filled with disappointment: “Even if you only learned now that Chang Hongbi is this child, it doesn’t mean you didn’t know that Chang Hongbi was the object of contention between Xingyun Manor and Tangmen! As for your intention to get involved with Chang Hongbi, is it because of this ‘Yi Jian Ru Gu’ you have on you?” 

When he mentioned “Yi Jian Ru Gu,” it was as if each word was a struggle to come out of his mouth. 

Zhan Rifei said, “I didn’t expect Huo Xiong to know about the ‘Yi Jian Ru Gu’ of the Shura Sect.” 

Huo Xiaodi replied, “I have seen quite a few of the world-renowned poisons.” 

Zhan Rifei continued, “Since you know the power of the Shura Sect’s poison, you should know that being poisoned means certain death—” 

Huo Xiaodi interrupted him, “Everyone knows that being poisoned by the Shura Sect’s ‘Yi Jian Ru Gu’ means certain death, but they don’t know that if one reverses their internal energy to seal the opposite acupoints with the ‘Tie Lian Huan,’ they can endure for several days.” 

—”When I cut open your clothing earlier, I saw three greenish marks on your back, spreading outwards, clearly left by the ‘Tie Lian Huan’ resisting this poison. There is no other poison in the world that can leave such shaped marks except for ‘Yi Jian Ru Gu’!” 

—”From the shape of these marks, I can deduce that you must have encountered someone from the Shura Sect five days ago! And the location of the ‘Yi Jian Ru Gu’ should be on your chest!” 

Zhan Rifei finally sighed, “I didn’t expect you to know the secret formula of the Shura Sect so clearly!” 

He seemed to have stopped questioning further. 

Huo Xiaodi, however, said slowly, “You are mistaken. It is not I who studied ‘Yi Jian Ru Gu,’ but Tang Tianhao. He once spent nine consecutive days without rest, dissecting forty-one corpses to understand the origins of ‘Yi Jian Ru Gu.'” 

His words seemed to not surprise Zhan Rifei. 

—How could the people of Tangmen tolerate other sects possessing poisons that surpassed their own? 

—As the hope of Tangmen, Tang Tianhao, though proud, understood his responsibilities. 

Huo Xiaodi added, “But don’t forget, I know Little Tang from Tangmen. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have recognized this world-renowned poison.” 

At this point, he stopped speaking. The remaining words, after all, he did not voice. 

—The reason he recognized the traces left by this poison was that he had witnessed Tang Tianhao examining all the corpses collected by Tangmen and had heard him meticulously recount each of his findings.

For a moment, he had forgotten that it was also the first time he had met this first person from the Tangmen. However, in his heart, he clearly remembered that night of drunkenness with Little Tang. 

It was during that time when both of them were quite intoxicated that he heard Tang Tianhao discuss the poisons of various sects. This proud figure from Tangmen, who looked down on any poison outside his sect, spoke highly of the Shura Sect’s “Yi Jian Ru Gu.”

In a drunken stupor, Tang Tianhao, with his already clean hands, gently tapped the long table, still commenting on his discoveries through hazy eyes. 

Even now, Tang Tianhao’s words echoed in his ears. 

—”Tie Lian Huan can only lock in the release of the poison, but each time one reverses their internal energy to operate the Tie Lian Huan, it deepens the toxicity. Therefore, whenever the poison strikes, especially at noon or midnight, when the blood vessels and yin-yang reach their extremes, the pain becomes unbearable. Thus, operating the Tie Lian Huan is akin to drinking poison to quench thirst; it is merely a desire to stop but cannot!” This poison is called ‘Yi Jian Ru Gu,’ likely taking its name from the idea of being inseparable day and night; once poisoned, one can never escape its grasp.” 

Huo Xiaodi’s heart tightened suddenly, unsure whether it was due to Tang Tianhao’s lingering words or the cruelty of this poison. 

Yet he heard Zhan Rifei say, “Even if I am poisoned by ‘Yi Jian Ru Gu,’ it has nothing to do with Huo Xiong.” 

Huo Xiaodi replied, “That’s right! This has nothing to do with me, but it is related to Chang Hongbi! Even if the Shura Sect has targeted you, that is still a matter of the underworld. But what about the ‘Da Cibei Zhang’ under your left rib?! 

The supreme skill of Shangqing Temple surely didn’t just come to you on its own!” 

Zhan Rifei was taken aback again. 

Huo Xiaodi’s expression grew increasingly grim. 

“One of the sworn enemies of the Shura Sect is Shangqing Temple. Even a small child knows that although their name is strange, they are considered a leading righteous sect in the martial world.” 

He continued, “Shangqing Temple has strict rules; their ‘Da Cibei Zhang’ is never passed on, and for over two hundred years, they have not even accepted secular disciples. Shangqing Temple is a well-known righteous sect, and for many years, they have eradicated evil and punished wrongdoers, with countless villains perishing at their hands.” 

His eyes fixed intently on Zhan Rifei, he said, “Shangqing Temple is renowned because they are just and prudent, never killing the innocent indiscriminately. Every time they act, it is after receiving the ‘Xia Yi Pai’ from the martial world, and those targeted by the Xia Yi Pai are all notorious scoundrels!” 

His lips trembled, “If you hadn’t provoked the ‘Xia Yi Pai,’ how could you have been struck by the supreme skill ‘Da Cibei Zhang’ of Shangqing Temple?” 

Zhan Rifei sighed lightly, “How did you deduce that what I was struck with under my left rib was the ‘Da Cibei Zhang’?” 

Huo Xiaodi was already coldly laughing: “If it were someone else, you might have deceived them, but you cannot fool me! Although the ‘Da Cibei Zhang’ is named for compassion, its force is so vicious that it can shatter a person’s heart and lungs invisibly, which is a great taboo in Buddhism. Its name, ‘Da Cibei Zhang,’ serves as a reminder to the user to always harbor compassion and never harm others lightly. For many years, Shangqing Temple has adhered to the orders of the Xia Yi Pai, precisely to avoid mistakenly harming good people in times of confusion. This domineering palm technique, once struck, causes the blood vessels to boil; even if one does not die, dark red spots will appear on the body. The red spots on your back, the closer they are to your left rib, the darker they are; what else could it be but the result of being struck by the ‘Da Cibei Zhang’?”

He grew more and more agitated, unable to restrain himself as he shouted, “The righteous and the evil have always been like fire and water, and now that both sides have been harmed, could it be that your talk of benevolence and morality is just a cover for a demon being pursued by both the black and white paths? I truly misjudged you!”

In an instant, the words he had heard since childhood suddenly echoed in his ears: “In this world, there are Bodhisattvas with smiling faces, and there are tigers with smiling faces.” Accompanying this was a familiar sigh. 

He didn’t even know why, but his eyes had turned red. The hand gripping the ‘Yin Yang Hound’ was already bulging with veins. 

In his eyes, there was a mix of resentment, disappointment, and pain: “You’ve deceived me so deeply. I never expected that, in the end, you are also someone who wants to seize Chang Hongbi! Did I misjudge you?!”

A sudden glint of light appeared in Zhan Rifei’s eyes, a flash that seemed to carry a hint of anger, but it quickly faded as he sighed softly, “The people of Linglong Manor are indeed talented and admirable! Hearing you say this, even if I am not, it seems quite difficult.”

He cast a sidelong glance at Huo Xiaodi and said, “If you are convinced that I am an irredeemable villain, why don’t you make a move?” 

In his deep eyes, there was an unfathomable calmness, so calm that it stirred no waves. The blackness of his eyes reflected Huo Xiaodi’s flushed face and the boy standing behind him.

—At this moment, the small eyes of Chang Hongbi were filled with immense excitement. 

Yet Huo Xiaodi’s hand trembled, and even his body couldn’t help but shiver slightly. His face alternated between green and white, and the veins on his forehead throbbed incessantly. 

Slowly, his short sword finally began to rise. When he lifted the sword, it felt as if it weighed a thousand pounds. The ‘Yin Yang Hound’ in his hand emitted a hissing sound, like a black poisonous snake ready to coil and deliver a deadly kiss to its target.

—It seemed that a magical force clung to the ‘Yin Yang Hound,’ and beneath its poisonous kiss, a faint stench could be detected, accompanying the hissing sound that wafted over. 

The black blade reflected Zhan Rifei’s face, which remained surprisingly calm. 

After a long pause, Huo Xiaodi gritted his teeth and suddenly kicked with his toes, unsealing Zhan Rifei’s acupoints. 

This move caught Chang Hongbi completely off guard. His questioning gaze turned toward Huo Xiaodi. 

But Huo Xiaodi did not look at him. 

He gritted his teeth and said, “Draw your sword!” 

Chang Hongbi almost thought he had misheard. 

Even Zhan Rifei couldn’t help but ask, “What?” 

Huo Xiaodi’s gaze was still filled with anger and pain, his teeth clenched tightly. His words seemed to burst forth from between his teeth: “I took advantage of your unpreparedness to subdue you; you must be feeling indignant inside.”

As he spoke, he lifted his foot and kicked Zhan Rifei’s long sword on the ground, continuing, “The reputation of Linglong Manor cannot be tarnished by my hands. If you have the guts, draw your sword!” 

A warmth suddenly surged in Zhan Rifei’s eyes, yet he still did not rise from the ground. 

—Could it be that he no longer had the strength to stand? 

“It’s a pity that my sword is not meant for friends.” 

Huo Xiaodi said sternly, “Who said you are friends with this demon? Will you not draw your sword?!—The people of Linglong Manor do not kill the defenseless!” 

Zhan Rifei glanced at Huo Xiaodi and replied, “If you are convinced I am a demon, then there’s no need to speak of the rules of the martial world. To be honest, at this point, I don’t even have the strength to draw my sword.” 

Huo Xiaodi hissed, “Why are you telling me this?! Do you think that by telling me this, I will soften my heart, and you will find an excuse not to fight me?” 

Zhan Rifei, however, did not respond to him. He glanced out the window, and his face suddenly turned pale. His lips moved, clearly wanting to say something, but for a moment, he could not utter a word. 

Huo Xiaodi followed his gaze to the window, where the crescent moon hung overhead. The moonlight was pale, and the reflection of the crescent moon was cast obliquely on the ‘Yin Yang Hound,’ which at that moment suddenly twitched with a “hiss.”

—Midnight had finally arrived. 

Huo Xiaodi’s face also turned as pale as the moonlight. 

—“So it’s already midnight.” 

—“So your ‘Yi Jian Ru Gu’ has flared up at this moment.” 

Zhan Rifei still could not speak. His face contorted in pain, his lips had already bled from biting them. The internal turmoil of his qi and blood felt like being cut by a thousand knives, and to Huo Xiaodi, it seemed like a nightmare—a nightmare he was all too familiar with! Memories of his past with Tang Tianhao flooded back, clear as if they were right beside him. He suddenly didn’t know what to do.

Suddenly, he felt a tug on his sleeve and looked down to see Chang Hongbi gripping his sleeve tightly, his face as pale as a corpse. 

Huo Xiaodi comforted him, “Don’t worry, with me here, he won’t harm you!” 

His words calmed Chang Hongbi, but the sword in his hand became even more hesitant, lifting and lowering, unable to stab down. 

Although Zhan Rifei was tormented by the effects of ‘Yi Jian Ru Gu,’ he looked into Huo Xiaodi’s eyes, which showed no sign of change. Those eyes still seemed to see through everything—Chang Hongbi wished he could gouge out those eyes!

Huo Xiaodi’s head felt heavy: “Do you think that because your ‘Yi Jian Ru Gu’ has flared up, I wouldn’t dare to kill you?” 

—Even he didn’t understand why the thought of Zhan Rifei deceiving him made him feel so heartbroken. He had only known Zhan Rifei for two days. Their meeting was as fleeting as a chance encounter on a road, as ordinary as a drop of water in a river.

The corner of Zhan Rifei’s mouth twitched slightly. Although he was weak and the ‘Yi Jian Ru Gu’ had caused him excruciating pain, a hint of a smile still appeared. 

—Huo Xiaodi did not misjudge; it was indeed a trace of a smile, a proud smile. 

With a “hiss,” the dirt flew up as the ‘Yin Yang Hound’ plunged straight into the ground before him! 

Huo Xiaodi’s voice rang out, “In Linglong Manor, we never kill the defenseless. If I encounter you again, I will not show mercy. You will bring about your demise with your misdeeds, so do not let me see you again, and do not lay your hands on this child!”

As his words fell, his short sword was already tucked away. He took Chang Hongbi’s hand and strode out of the temple door. 

—But once he left, he never looked back. Was it because he feared that if he turned back, he would change his mind? 

The mountain wind blew in gusts, mixed with an endless sense of rain, occasionally punctuated by the low calls of night birds, like a chaotic and disjointed lament that stirred the heart. Huo Xiaodi’s figure vanished into the night.

—

(Part Nine)

The vast manor was dark and silent. The deep hall was layered one upon another. 

Scattered lights flickered like stars, dotting the woods. The wind still carried a heavy scent of rain and a faint fragrance of flowers. Layers of bamboo curtains hung low, isolating the bustling world outside, yet deeply concealing the rain within the hall.

In this desolate moonlight, Hua Zifeng once again moved cautiously, ensuring that the warmth of his heart from the night wind did not affect his emotions. He walked slowly, allowing the mysterious masters hidden around to recognize his footsteps and his presence, even though he was already intimately familiar with this place.

As the eldest brother of the Hua family, he was different from Yan Ziqing, who also worked in Jinshitang. His caution stemmed from admiration for his master, not fear. 

A long corridor led directly to the end of the manor. In the distance, the drum sounded, marking the third watch of the night. 

Hua Zifeng’s pace remained steady. His dry, rugged face resembled a walnut, and his clean, neatly trimmed hands indicated that he was a very efficient person. 

Suddenly, a light flickered in a heavy hall, as if it had anticipated his arrival. 

Hua Zifeng approached the hall and respectfully stopped with his hands lowered. 

Before the hall, layers of bamboo curtains still hung, allowing only the piercing light to filter through, locking away all the secrets within.

“General Shao has sent a secret letter.” 

The bamboo curtain lifted, and a young boy with long hair came out to receive the message. A faint scent of sandalwood wafted in with the lifted curtain. 

Amidst the swirling smoke, a bony, withered hand took the letter from the boy. The face that read the letter showed no expression whatsoever. 

Perhaps any attempt to decipher his expression was a futile effort. 

The hall was dark, and a single flickering candle cast a dim light. Was it because the master of the hall preferred darkness, enjoying observing his opponents in the shadows? 

A gloomy voice broke the silence and darkness of the hall, coming from a person standing with hands lowered beside him. 

Carefully, the person standing beside him said, “Today marks the fourth day. If we still cannot retrieve that item by then, and it falls into the capital, I fear that even if we kill everyone in Xiangyang, it will be irretrievable.”

—“I wonder if General Shao has found any trace of that person by now?” 

The expressionless face finally revealed a hint of displeasure: “Shao Jizu has mobilized the royal guards and half of the men from Jinshitang, yet to this day, they have still found nothing.” 

The person standing beside him said cautiously, “Your Highness, General Shao’s opponent is indeed well-known and of noble status. Moreover, I have deduced that he must have gone into hiding to cover his tracks, taking a shortcut directly to the capital. Even if I were to draw a map for him, due to the gravity of the matter, the Xiangyang royal family cannot make it public, which inevitably restricts our actions. General Shao’s difficulties this time should have been anticipated.” 

A glimmer of cold light flashed across the expressionless face in the seat. The gloomy voice rose sharply: “The longer he drags this out, the greater the chance of escape; how can this not make me anxious?!” 

After a moment of contemplation, the person standing beside him said, “I believe that even if Your Highness is displeased, you should not blame General Shao. General Shao has received Your Highness’s great favor and is a rare talent; he will surely do his utmost in this matter. Furthermore, Your Highness should know that he is also the key to obtaining the ‘Linglong Eye’ from the Huo family; we must not let him harbor resentment.” 

The person sitting in the hall sneered, “If it weren’t for me receiving the imperial decree for marriage, how could the eldest daughter of the Huo family from Linglong Manor be so easily promised to him? Shao Jizu is currently grateful to me; how could he harbor resentment?” 

The person beside him said, “Your Highness has been waiting for the marriage of the eldest daughter of the Huo family from Linglong Manor for a long time, but General Shao seems to be deeply in love with that young lady. He is clever and perceptive; if he guesses Your Highness’s intentions, I fear—” 

The person in the hall slowly interrupted him, saying, “Haven’t you heard that a man in love with his beloved woman, even if he was once clever, will become a fool? Even if Shao Jizu was exceptionally intelligent before, he must now obediently remain under my control!” 

Amidst the swirling incense, the person’s face suddenly turned grotesque; with a cold smile, he murmured, “Huo Linglong, oh Huo Linglong, if it weren’t for the fact that the eldest daughters of the Huo family only unlock their ‘Linglong Eyes’ on the day of their marriage, how could I have waited for you until now?!”

(Part Ten)

Huo Xiaodi felt his head swelling, his chaotic thoughts swirling like the gusts of night wind. He ran aimlessly, and before he knew it, he had covered more than ten miles. 

The hand of Chang Hongbi beside him was already in pain from being gripped tightly, and his face was stung by the mountain wind. This strange boy, however, bore it silently. For him, being held by Huo Xiaodi was already a source of satisfaction.

As he was walking, Huo Xiaodi suddenly stopped. He blurted out, “No! This isn’t right!” 

His body came to an abrupt halt, causing Chang Hongbi, who had no martial skills, to stumble forward uncontrollably. 

Only then did Huo Xiaodi realize he was still holding Chang Hongbi’s arm and hurriedly steadied him, saying gently, “Be careful!” 

In the darkness, he felt the boy’s eager eyes. Although they still held fear, for the first time, they lacked wariness and suspicion. 

Huo Xiaodi suddenly felt a pang of compassion. He crouched down and said softly, “I know you are Chang Hongbi from Han Shui Palace. My name is Huo Xiaodi. Don’t be afraid; I won’t hurt you.” 

Chang Hongbi nodded, still struggling to speak, “I know—” 

Huo Xiaodi asked in surprise, “What do you know?” 

Chang Hongbi replied, “I—know you won’t—hurt me—” 

Huo Xiaodi couldn’t help but smile, “How do you know that?” 

This question seemed to stump Chang Hongbi. After a long hesitation, the unusual boy stammered, “I don’t know—why, I—just—know.” 

Hearing his nonsensical words, Huo Xiaodi couldn’t help but smile again, saying, “Don’t worry, I will take you to a safe place, somewhere the people from Han Shui Palace can’t find.” 

His expression turned serious as he continued, “But before we set off, you must tell me how you learned to speak! You weren’t pretending to be mute all along to deceive me, were you?” 

Chang Hongbi smiled shyly and slowly said, “I didn’t—deceive—you. Just now—I felt a strange itch in my throat, and my whole body was restless. When I saw you attacking that man in black, I unconsciously shouted out.” 

As soon as he mentioned Zhan Rifei, Huo Xiaodi began to zone out again, muttering, “This isn’t right!” 

Chang Hongbi looked at him, curiously yet cautiously asking, “What did you just say was ‘not right’?” 

For some reason, his words seemed to echo in Huo Xiaodi’s ears like the shouts of a thousand people. It felt as if he had been struck by a whip, and he suddenly jumped up, exclaiming, “I meant that something here was off!” 

Chang Hongbi asked, “What’s off?” 

Huo Xiaodi’s expression changed. A thought began to weigh heavily on his heart, pressing down so hard that he could hardly breathe, and his hands turned cold. 

His voice became bitter: “I—I must—go back—to ask—him!” 

Without waiting for Chang Hongbi to respond, he grabbed him and shot off like an arrow released from a bow. 

A returning arrow. 

When Huo Xiaodi burst into the dilapidated temple, his heart was pounding. Even he didn’t know why he felt so nervous. 

When he saw Zhan Rifei’s face, his tense heart finally relaxed. 

Zhan Rifei’s complexion seemed much better. More precisely, he looked as if the person who had just been tortured by ‘Yi Jian Ru Gu’ had nothing to do with him now. 

Huo Xiaodi then realized that he knew far too little about the martial skills of this man in black. 

—Every time he had attacked, it seemed he hadn’t seen it at all. 

—Before encountering him, he had been struck by the Shura Sect’s ‘Yi Jian Ru Gu’ and the ‘Da Cibei Zhang’ of Shangqing Temple, yet he could still subdue Mu Xiuquan in front and battle the two envoys of Han Shui Palace behind. 

—How many secrets were hidden within this man in black? 

Strangely, Zhan Rifei didn’t seem surprised to see him and Chang Hongbi. Huo Xiaodi suddenly felt that his reckless return was akin to a rabbit being chased by seven wolves.

The two of them exchanged glances, neither speaking. 

Finally, Huo Xiaodi couldn’t help but ask, “Why aren’t you saying anything?” 

Zhan Rifei replied, “What does Huo Xiong want me to say?” A smile slowly began to form in his eyes. 

Huo Xiaodi stamped his foot, “You—! Do you want me to say it out loud?!” 

Zhan Rifei said, “Huo Xiong’s thoughts are intricate and ever-changing; I truly cannot guess. —Is Huo Xiong hoping I would ask, ‘Didn’t you already leave? Why have you returned?’” 

Huo Xiaodi said, “Exactly! I returned because I can’t figure it out!” 

—“If you truly killed Mu Xiuquan for Chang Hongbi, you could have waited until Mu Xiuquan killed me before making your move. Wouldn’t that reduce your worries? Once Mu Xiuquan and I are gone, who could stop you?” 

—“If you are fighting with Han Shui Palace for Chang Hongbi, you could have waited until I was in a fierce battle with them, and there would be no need to stop me beforehand.” 

—“If you are after Chang Hongbi, why tell me that he is this child, thus creating an extra enemy?” 

He huffed angrily, “Everything I just thought of is a flaw; why don’t you refute it? Are you trying to make me look bad on purpose?” 

—As soon as he finished speaking, he realized he had never given Zhan Rifei a chance to explain. 

—Despite this, he still felt wrong, as if all the blame lay with Zhan Rifei. 

Zhan Rifei smiled and said, “Even if I don’t refute it, didn’t Huo Xiong see through everything? Haven’t you returned?” 

He continued slowly, “I know you still don’t believe your deductions. If you truly believed them, this finger would have already sealed my fate. If you believed your deductions, you would have stabbed me to death long ago; how could we be here calmly talking?” 

Huo Xiaodi replied, “Don’t be too pleased! The flaws in my deductions don’t mean you are without suspicion. If you are innocent, then how did the unique skill ‘Da Cibei Zhang’ of Shangqing Temple end up under your rib?” 

Zhan Rifei hesitated for a long time before saying, “If I don’t tell you, I fear I will never have peace. Since you have already made an enemy of the Xiangyang royal family, you will eventually find out—truth be told, the one who can use ‘Da Cibei Zhang’ is not just Shangqing Temple.” 

Huo Xiaodi asked, “Besides Shangqing Temple, who else could use this palm technique? Shangqing Temple has been established for a hundred years, with many talented individuals; how could someone steal the manual for ‘Da Cibei Zhang’?” 

Zhan Rifei replied, “In fact, ‘Da Cibei Zhang’ has never had a manual; the palm techniques have always been passed down orally. There’s no way to steal it.” 

Huo Xiaodi said, “Then how could others learn this set of techniques? Are you saying that Shangqing Temple has already allied with the Xiangyang prince?” He shook his head, frowning, “That doesn’t align with their temple rules.” 

Zhan Rifei said, “Although Shangqing Temple has not allied with the Xiangyang prince, the ‘Da Cibei Zhang’ has indeed been passed down outside. The monks of Shangqing Temple have always kept this matter secret.” 

He sighed softly and added, “Sometimes, face is indeed very important.” 

Huo Xiaodi asked, “Who is the person who learned ‘Da Cibei Zhang’?” 

Zhan Rifei replied, “The person who knows ‘Da Cibei Zhang’ has a significant connection to the Xiangyang prince. You have likely met this person in the Xiangyang royal family.” 

He looked at Huo Xiaodi, speaking each word carefully: “This person is the ‘Qian Bian Wan Hua Hei Yao Hu’!” 

Huo Xiaodi could hardly believe his ears: “You mean Zhi Hua?” 

Zhan Rifei said, “If it’s not him, who else could it be?” 

Huo Xiaodi said, “This fox has never left home; even if he were to leave, how could he end up at Shangqing Temple? If he has no connection to Shangqing Temple, how could he have learned ‘Da Cibei Zhang’?” 

Zhan Rifei replied, “Although he has never left home, he does have connections to Shangqing Temple. His learning of ‘Da Cibei Zhang’ shouldn’t be considered stealing. However, not many people in the martial world know about this. Although I know that ‘Da Cibei Zhang’ has spread outside, if he hadn’t pressed this palm against my left rib, I wouldn’t have known that the person who could use this technique was him!” 

Huo Xiaodi asked curiously, “Since the monks of Shangqing Temple know this matter is significant and pride themselves on their purity, adhering strictly to their temple rules, how could they sit idly by if they learned that Zhi Hua had learned this technique? When have they ever feared the government?” 

Zhan Rifei replied, “It’s simply because they are truly helpless. The person who passed down this technique was deceived into allowing Zhi Hua to learn this martial art, yet it is also legitimate, and no one can say anything.” 

Huo Xiaodi’s eyes brightened, “From this, it seems that the sudden illness of the abbot of Shangqing Temple six years ago, who passed away the next day, is likely related to the loss of ‘Da Cibei Zhang’ to others.” 

Zhan Rifei said, “The reasons behind this are likely known to no one.” Though he said this, admiration was already evident in his eyes. 

Huo Xiaodi said, “Are you saying this to protect the reputation of Shangqing Temple? Did you already guess the intricacies of this matter?” 

Zhan Rifei did not answer him but changed the subject, saying, “Huo Xiong and I are merely acquaintances; since you have doubts about me, there’s no need to elaborate. Huo Xiong, your purpose has been achieved; let us part ways here.” 

Huo Xiaodi rolled his eyes and said, “You think we can just part ways? Do you want to leave without clarifying things? It won’t be that easy!” 

Zhan Rifei then realized that the people of Linglong Manor were more troublesome than women when it came to reasoning. 

So even though he knew Huo Xiaodi was about to explode, he still had to say, “If Huo Xiong doesn’t take Chang Hongbi and leave quickly, I fear it will soon be too late.” 

This time, however, Huo Xiaodi surprised him by not getting angry. He calmly replied, “As long as Little Shao isn’t here, I don’t need to leave just yet.” 

Zhan Rifei said, “Huo Xiong, don’t forget if the pursuers discover our whereabouts, General Shao will catch up quickly.” 

At this point, his expression changed, and he smiled bitterly, “They’re coming fast! It’s probably too late to leave now.” 

Huo Xiaodi, who could “listen to the flowers in the night,” could faintly hear countless faint sounds outside the temple door. 

—It was the sound of night travelers’ clothes brushing against the branches in the thickets, and the subtle sounds of boots sinking into the mud due to the continuous rain. 

However, these faint sounds were soon drowned out by another kind of noise! 

The moonlight suddenly vanished. 

No, the moonlight hadn’t disappeared; it was the night birds startled into flight, filling the sky with their flapping wings. 

Black wings beat against the rain-laden air. 

Under the sky formed by black wings, the sound of hooves grew louder, splashing mud everywhere. 

—The pursuers had finally arrived! 

Zhan Rifei smiled and said, “This time, even if you want to leave, you won’t be able to.” 

[Note] The title of this section, “Zhe Ge Tian,” was chosen because ancient people wrote about “Zhe Ge” to express sorrow over parting: its cry resembles “You can’t go, brother!” Here, it describes Zhan Rifei being restrained and suspected multiple times, wanting to leave but unable to escape.